These annual awards are designed to support creative documentary filmmaking and to bring films to the screen, which explore an aspect of Belfast life in an original way.
Northern Visions places a great emphasis on preserving the creative control of the individual filmmaker believing that passion, commitment and invention are the qualities of independent video making. These qualities rather than experience in video making are the driving force behind the HOMETOWN awards and Northern Visions has designed the scheme so that it is accessible to both first time and established filmmakers by giving support through training and allowing generous time limits for completion.
The three films which are being premiered at the Waterfront Hall are the first to be made under this award, two by first time filmmakers, Paddy McCoey and Jimmy McAleavey and the third by established filmmaker Frank Martin and journalist Seamus Kelters. They are the

personal and singular visions of very determined filmmakers and each, in their different ways, demonstrates the ethos of the award, which is to document:
A look at a singular community that resonates through all our lives.
A portrait of a person or people that startles others out of their assumptions.
A video that moves viewers off the couch - to act and effect change.
HOMETOWN is the only documentary award in Northern Ireland and Northern Visions is indebted to Making Belfast Work for their generous support of this initiative which has allowed documentary making to transcend the traditional boundaries of broadcast television and enabled Northern Visions to bring these thoughtful and compassionate films to the screen.
Marilyn Hyndman  Executive Producer